GRR Reviews The Ugly Duckling by Annabelle Costa

Libby dyed her hair blonde and dropped 40 pounds to stop being the ugly duckly, and she mostly succeeded. Her current boyfriend is actually quite nice, very handsome... even has the British accent. That is, until she caught him cheating. That's when she started to notice Will, her BF's roommate. Will is not that handsome, Will has no accent, and Will is paraplegic and moves around in a wheelchair. But Will is nice, charming, genuine, and makes plenty of money as a lawyer (in fact, he owns the flat, not renting) Perhaps, Libby doesn't need a male swan, but just a nice drake (that's a male duck!)...

Not bad, not the first "guy in wheelchair" romance I've read, but this has some of the nice touches.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Jilted woman noticed her cheating ex's roommate, the wheelchair-ridden Will who's nice and genuine

Overall Rating: 4/5

NOTE: Tropes are now in the "Labels" below. 

GRR Reviews Nothing More To Lose (Hidden Cove Firefighters) by Kathryn Shay

Nothing More To Lose is about two couples, a hurt firefighter with his Broadway star girlfriend, and a disgraced cop now working as a bodyguard fell for a teacher in the area. The conflicts are nicely detailed and felt authentic.

Ian Woodward lost his legs in 9/11, and was one of the few survivors of his company. In his darkest hours, he rejected everyone, including his one love, Broadway star Lisel Loring. But she won't let him go. Ian recovered and started teaching at the fire academy, but he's not ready to love again. When a crazed stalker latched onto Lisel, Ian called for help, and got ex-cop Rick Ruscio, who lost his badge when he had to expose a scandal within the police department. As he was protecting Lisel and doing his own community service, Rick met teacher Faith McPherson, who saw past Rick's rough exterior and guilt. Both have to struggle with their own crisis of the heart and deal with the love of the strong women... whose love can redeem them...

Kathryn Shay wrote a whole series on this fictional fire department and it's very good. All the details are authentic as she apparently rode along with the ladder company for a few years to get all the lingo right and found scenarios that made sense. It's VERY good if you like the slow-simmer type of romance.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: A firefighter struggle to stay after injury, an ex-cop struggling to work as a bodyguard, and women who love them...

Tropes: firefighter, law enforcement, bodyguard, performer, family pressure, stalker,

Overall Rating:  4/5

GRR Reviews Until the Stars Fall From the Sky by Mary Crawford

WARNING: This book contains description of horrific child abuse, viewer discretion is advised

Until the Stars Fall from the Sky is an emotional tale of two damaged people, one physically, one emotionally, coming together, defying all barriers, and united in their quest to love children and each other.

Jeff is a summertime lifeguard. His life was forever changed when a beautiful redhead, in a wheelchair, jumped off the boat to rescue a little boy right under Jeff's nose. The redhead's name was Kiera, a former swimmer, now social worker dedicating her life to save abused children. Jeff grew up in a dysfunctional family and his stepfather is a foul-mouthed abusive SOB that beats wife and kids. This fueled Jeff's passion into going into criminal justice, esp. prosecutor's office. Jeff fell for Kiera hard. She's smart, witty, and vivacious, despite being in a wheelchair, and she challenged Jeff to be more than he is. When Kiera had to rescue a 6-year-old and her baby sister (only a few months old) can Jeff and Kiera become instant parents and declare their love for each other?

Some of the abuse described were horrific and it was great to see that the perps got their karma, and the couple realize together they heal each other and can be parents to the children.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Man in prosecutor's office training falls for children's advocate, who also happens to be wheelchair-ridden

Tropes: interracial, law enforcement, wheelchair

Overall Rating:  5/5